INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL REHEATING AT RH DEGASSER ON CLEANLINESS OF IF STEEL GRADES

Abstract

Production practices of IF (interstitial free) steel grades intended for the most qualitatively demanding automotive applications calls for their continuous optimization. Precise control of steelmaking operation conditions leads to a minimization of clogging issues during their casting, but is also related to surface quality imperfections of finished material. With the aim to study the impact of RH degasser practices on cleanliness of the IF steel grades, the influence of heat chemical reheating was verified. While detailed analyses confirmed overall worse results and a higher presence of specific nonmetallic particles on steel samples collected from such treated heats, the limited reheating practice did not seem detrimental.